All Activity

(Image Credit: Vertical) Vertical has released the first Last Days trailer, previewing the upcoming biographical drama from Fast & Furious director Justin Lin, based on the true story of John Allen Chau. Last Days is set to come out on October 24, 2025. “Based on a true story, Justin Lin’s Last Days follows 26-year-old John Allen Chau’s journey to fulfill his life’s mission,” reads the film’s official synopsis. “He embarks on a dangerous adventure across the globe to share his faith with the isolated tribe of North Sentinel Island, while a detective from the Andaman Islands races to stop him before he does harm to himself or the tribe.” Check out the Last Days trailer below (watch other trailers): What happens in the Last Days trailer? The trailer recounts the story of John Allen Chau, who traveled to North Sentinel Island in an attempt to evangelize the self-isolated Sentinelese people into Christianity. The movie also covers the Indian police who attempt to find Chau and stop him from making contact with the tribe. In real life, Chau attempted contact with the Sentinelese people multiple times before being killed by the tribe in 2018. Last Days is directed by Justin Lin, from a screenplay written by Ben Ripley. The film stars Sky Yang, Radhika Apte, Naveen Andrews, Ken Leung, Toby Wallace, and Ciara Bravo. Justin Lin, Clayton Townsend, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Eric Robinson, Salvador Gatdula, and Andrew Schneider serve as producers on the film. The post Fast & Furious Director Justin Lin’s New Movie Last Days Gets Trailer appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Image Credit: YouTube Highlander star Henry Cavill recently shared the incredible physique he’s been building up to prepare for his role in the upcoming movie. In a new post shared on Instagram, Cavill showed himself mid-training, complete with a cast and boot on his foot following an injury he suffered during pre-production fight training last month. In the caption for the photo, Cavill shared a quote from the Dungeons & Dragons campaign Planescape: Torment, which focuses on enduring. Check out the photo below: What do we know about the upcoming Highlander movie? The Highlander remake is set to star Henry Cavill in the lead role of Connor MacLeod, originally played by Christopher Lambert. Alongside Cavill, the film will also star Dave Bautista, Russell Crowe, Jeremy Irons, Marisa Abela, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, and Max Zhang. Plot details for the new Highlander movie have not yet been revealed. The project was originally in development at Lionsgate but is now instead being made for Amazon MGM Studios. “When the mystical Russell Nash (Lambert) kills a man in a sword fight in a New York City parking lot, he leaves a sliver of an ancient weapon lodged in a car in the process,” a description of the original Highlander film reads. “After brilliant forensics specialist Brenda Wyatt (Roxanne Hart) recovers evidence of the mysterious weapon, she and her partner, Lt. Frank Moran (Alan North), embark on an investigation Of Nash that will land them in the middle of a dangerous, centuries-old feud between powerful immortals.” Originally published by Anthony Nash on SuperHeroHype. The post Henry Cavill Shows Off Intense Highlander Movie Prep in Shirtless Photos appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Photo Credit: New Line Cinema ComingSoon Senior Editor Brandon Schreur spoke to Freddy Krueger star Robert Englund about the brand-new A Nightmare on Elm Street 7-film collection from New Line Home Video. Englund discussed the advice Wes Craven gave him when making the first movie in the iconic horror franchise, his experiences on the set of New Nightmare, and more. “Freddy Krueger, the vengeful child killer burned alive by angry parents, returns to haunt the dreams of their children when this chilling 7-film saga becomes available as a 4K UHD collection for the first time. From his first terrifying appearance on Elm Street to his resurrection through nightmares, Freddy unleashes horror across generations – where sleep is no escape, and dreams become deadly,” a description of the product reads. The A Nightmare on Elm Street 7-film collection is now available to purchase. Click here for more information. Brandon Schreur: Before I ask you anything, I just want to say real quick that I am such a fan of your work and such a fan of this franchise. It’s super exciting that it’s getting this new seven-movie release, so congratulations on all the success that Nightmare has had. Robert Englund: Well, thank you. I’m really happy to be on the stump for the collection, because I’ve realized, in the years since it’s been coming out, just how many fans only saw it on VHS back in the day. Or, maybe the early DVDs. They have that great nostalgic memory of seeing it with their mom, their dad, their step-dad, single-mom, or something. Seeing mom get scared under that old quilt on the back of the couch. But I really encourage them, especially if they have a favorite, to check out these new ones. Because they’re pristine. They’re brand-new. The color timing, the color mix, and everything have been adjusted just exactly the way the people made them wanted. It’s really a treat. Oh, definitely. I’m so excited for this. I remember watching that first movie at a slumber party for the first time. Couldn’t tell the parents or anything like that. But we loved it, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Well, when I did The Goldbergs — I did that for my agent because it was his family’s favorite show — that was true. The Goldbergs, he really did have to go watch it next door. His mother wouldn’t let him watch it. That’s awesome. Robert, you first played Freddy Krueger back in 1984. Obviously, Wes Craven made that first movie. You’ve been in a lot of the sequels since then, or all of the sequels since then. My question is, was there a piece of advice that Wes Craven gave you when making that first movie — whether it was a note about the character or some kind of discussion about what kind of horror monster that Freddy really is — that you took with you and influenced your performance for the rest of the movies? There wasn’t really a note about how to act Freddy. Wes, God bless him, he was hands-off with me. Once he got me in that terrible sweater and the four hours of makeup. But the great advice Wes gave me early on was to respect the genre. I remembered, I had a flashback to my childhood. And I was a bit of a snob in the 70s because I’d come from the theater. I’d forgotten what a little fanboy I was and how much I loved Hammer Films, matinee horror movies, science fiction, Twilight Zone, and everything. When Wes told me that, to respect the genre, I think it really was a profound piece of advice. It really made me always think of the sequels and each one of the Nightmare projects, to imagine them in the best possible way. Imagine that they would look the best possible way coming alive off the page of the script. I always did that with my performance, as well. But, yeah, Wes really was kind of hands-off with me. I had to fight for the hat. Both he and Robert Shay were getting cold feet about the hat, for some reason. I sort of reminded them how the hat could help with the makeup. It could help hide the makeup because it casts a shadow, and by lifting my head, I could reveal my eyes and catch the light. Also, if I took the hat off — when I remove the hat — I would reveal further disfigurement, which was a dramatic value, too. So I kind of had to fight for the hat. But that’s about it. Wes, once he cast me, he kind of left me alone. Sure. That was a good fight. I’m glad we got the hat. I know, they literally put a paperboy’s hat on me once. I felt like I was going out for the bus and trunk company of Newsies. I love it. Building off that, after you did that first movie, there were all the sequels, but then you and Wes came back for New Nightmare in 1994. Which I think is maybe my favorite film of the franchise? It’s so hard to pick. It’s my favorite. Is it really? Yeah. I love it. I’m curious, in those ten years from the first movie to New Nightmare, did that dynamic change at all between you, Wes, and Heather? Or did you all get back on set and things clicked right back into place? I’d seen Wes a lot over the years. And I’d seen Heather a lot over the years on the publicity tours and a couple of film festivals. Wes and I had a great time at some film festivals in Italy. We got close. Not as close as we got when I did Nightmare Cafe with him, but we were pretty close. When we got back, my big experience that I remember from Wes Craven’s New Nightmare was hanging out with John Saxon every day for lunch. They had to shoot the kid up for the rest of the day, so I was always done by lunch. I’d have my little glass of wine stashed in the catering truck. I liked a free meal, and so did John. I got John to open up and tell me every story from Elvis Presley to Bruce Lee to Robert Redford to James Dean to Natalie Wood to Audrey Hepburn, John Huston, Quentin Tarantino, Clint Eastwood, and Marlon Brando. I got all the stories from John working the cusp of Old Hollywood into New Hollywood. That was my great takeaway from Wes Craven’s New Nightmare. Thanks to Robert Englund for taking the time to discuss A Nightmare on Elm Street 7-film collection. The post A Nightmare on Elm Street’s Robert Englund Reveals Best Advice Wes Craven Gave Him | Interview appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Photo Credit: United Artists The upcoming Rocky biopic movie, titled I Play Rocky, has found an actor to portray Carl Weathers. In May 2024, it was announced that Peter Farrelly had been tapped to direct I Play Rocky. The movie will detail how Sylvester Stallone fought tooth and nail to play the role of Rocky Balboa for the very first time in 1976’s Rocky, which was directed by John G. Avildsen and won the Best Picture Academy Award. It was previously announced that Anthony Ippolito, known for starring in 2022’s Purple Hearts, will play a young Stallone in the film. Who is playing Carl Weathers in the Rocky biopic movie? Per Deadline, it has now been announced that Stephan James will play Carl Weathers in the Rocky biopic. Weathers, who passed away in February 2024, played Apollo Creed in the first four Rocky movies. While Apollo is initially a foe that Rocky has to face in the ring, the two set their differences aside and team up in 1982’s Rocky III, creating a friendship that lasts until Apollo’s death in 1985’s Rocky IV. James is known for playing Alonzo “Fonny” Hunt in Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk, which was released in 2018, and Jesse Owens in 2016’s Race. His filmography further includes 2013’s Selma, 2015’s Across the Line, 2019’s 21 Bridges, 2024’s The Piano Lesson, and 2025’s Night Always Comes, among other titles. In television, James starred as Walter Cruz in Amazon’s Homecoming series, while he’s additionally appeared in shows such as Degrassi: The Next Generation, Clue, The L.A. Complex, Shots Fired, #FreeRayshawn, Surface, and Beacon 23. The screenplay for I Play Rocky comes from Peter Gamble. Toby Emmerich and Christian Baha are producing the film, while FilmNation Entertainment is handling production services and international sales. A release date for I Play Rocky has not yet been set. The post Rocky Biopic Movie Finds Carl Weathers Actor appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Everything coming out of St. Louis suggests that the Cardinals are at a major pivot point for the franchise. They are entering what could be a multi-year rebuild period as they focus on player development more than short-term contention. That has been the case for about a year already but all signs suggest the club will be leaning harder in that direction. Katie Woo of The Athletic reports that the ownership will now be more willing to eat money in trades, in order to extract greater returns. That reporting aligns with comments this week from Chaim Bloom, the new president of baseball operations. “As far as cash being a lever on the trade front, that should never be off the table,” he said, per Woo. “Obviously, you’d prefer not to do that, but you could end up in a situation where adding cash to make a preferred deal work just makes sense.” Between Bloom’s comments and Woo’s reporting about ownership, it seems the franchise is aligned. That should only add to the sense that highly-paid players like Nolan Arenado and Sonny Gray are more likely to be moved this offseason than they were last winter. A year ago, the Cards made it clear that they were beginning this reset period. That initially made it seem likely that veteran players like Arenado, Gray and Willson Contreras could be logical trade candidates. However, Gray and Contreras quickly indicated that they wanted to stay in St. Louis. Arenado was a bit more open to a trade but had a narrow list of five clubs he considered acceptable landing spots and ultimately wasn’t traded. The club’s rebuilding plans now seem to be more firmly in place and both Arenado and Gray have publicly expressed a greater willingness to waive their no-trade clauses this time around. Contreras seems less interested in leaving but didn’t completely discount the possibility. That’s a good start for the Cardinals but eating money will be helpful to getting deals done. Gray is still a good pitcher and just wrapped a solid season, middling earned run average notwithstanding. Though he allowed 4.28 earned runs per nine over 180 2/3 innings, his .329 batting average on balls in play probably inflated that a bit. His 26.7% strikeout rate, 5% walk rate and 43.9% ground ball rate were all strong marks. ERA estimators like his 3.39 FIP and 3.29 SIERA suggest he was more his old self than the ERA itself would indicate. Even if clubs are willing to overlook the ERA, the contract is an obstacle. His three-year, $75MM deal with the Cardinals was heavily backloaded. He made just $10MM in 2024 and $25MM this year. He’ll then make $35MM next year, followed by a $5MM buyout on a $30MM club option. If that option is picked up, Gray can then opt out. At this point, there is just one more guaranteed season left on the deal but with $40MM still to be paid out. The option doesn’t really add any extra upside because of that opt-out. Despite Gray’s talents, $40MM for one year of a pitcher is a lot. That kind of average annual value has been reserved for ace-type pitchers. Even if it were a fair price for Gray’s services, eating more money to extract more prospect capital is a sensible tactic for a club focused on the long term. Arenado is going to make $27MM next year, though the Rockies are going to pay $5MM of that and $6MM is deferred. He’ll then make $15MM in 2027. That works out to less than $20MM annually but his stock is down after some rough years at the plate. He hit just .237/.289/.377 for a wRC+ of 84 this year and was barely above league average in the prior two campaigns. He still gets good grades for his glovework but isn’t the MVP candidate he once was. Other teams will have different valuations of what they expect from him going forward, but as mentioned with Gray, any money that the Cardinals are willing to eat should increase what teams are willing to give up. With Contreras, as mentioned, a trade seems less likely before even considering the money but it could happen. He is still owed $41.5MM over the next two years. That’s an $18MM salary next year, $18.5MM in 2027, and then a $5MM buyout on a $17.5MM club option for 2028. He has been moved from the catcher position to first base. He got decent grades for his glovework there this year, getting credit for six Outs Above Average, while Defensive Runs Saved had him just below par at -1. The bat is still strong, as he hit .257/.344/.447 this year for a 124 wRC+. Those numbers are all close to his career marks, where he has a .258/.352/.459 batting line and 122 wRC+. Though he’s going into his age-34 season, the deal isn’t bad. Christian Walker just got $60MM over three years from the Astros going into his age-34 campaign. But even if the Contreras deal isn’t underwater, other teams may not give up much for it unless the Cards pay it down somewhat. Last winter, the Cards seemed to be more motivated by salary relief. Arenado was still owed roughly $60MM over three years when they lined up a trade with the Astros. Arenado vetoed that deal but reporting indicated the Cards were only going to eat about $5MM per season, leaving the Astros on the hook for about $45MM. It’s unknown what the Cards were going to receive in that trade but is was likely going to be a salary dump deal. Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. later said they would have to find cuts elsewhere if they didn’t move Arenado, though that didn’t really end up happening. Per RosterResource, the Cardinals had a $144MM payroll in 2025. Thanks to some trades and some expiring contracts, they are projected for just $75MM next year. Arbitration salaries for players like Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar could push that up but those players are themselves candidates to be traded this winter. Perhaps that lighter payroll is what opened the path for the Cards to worry less about cost savings this time, which could increase their chances of adding meaning young talent to their pipeline. There will be non-payroll expenditures, however. Woo reports that the club is planning to make more investments in the fields of analytics, player development and scouting. There’s also some uncertainty with the club’s TV deal. The Cards reached a new agreement with Main Street Sports, formerly known as Diamond Sports Group, to be on the FanDuel Sports Network in 2025. Woo writes that the deal contains option provisions after each season. She says that no major shake-up is expected but that some renegotiations could take place. Photo courtesy of Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images View the full article

(Image Credit: Fox/ABC) ABC has released a new 9-1-1 Season 9 trailer, previewing the return of the hit medical drama procedural. 9-1-1 Season 9 is set to premiere on October 9, 2025. The new season of 9-1-1 will feature a litany of chaotic moments for the Los Angeles-based first responders to arrive to. It’ll also be the third season of the series that airs on ABC, following the show originally premiering on FOX and running for six seasons there. Check out the 9-1-1 Season 9 trailer below (watch other trailers): Who is in the 9-1-1 Season 9 trailer? The 9-1-1 Season 9 trailer sees the return of Angela Bassett as Athena Grant-Nash, LAPD patrol sergeant, as well as several other characters from past 9-1-1 seasons. The ninth season of the show will once again feature a number of chaotic situations that the group will be responding to. Notably, past teasers for Season 9 teased the group heading into space on a call. 9-1-1 originally premiered in 2018 and aired on Fox until May 2023. The series then moved to ABC, starting with season seven, and has aired there ever since. Outside of Bassett, the series also stars Oliver Stark, Aisha Hinds, Kenneth Choi, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ryan Guzman, and more. The series was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear. Lou Eyrich, Eryn Krueger Mekash, Adam Penn, Erica L. Anderson, Matthew Hodgson, Robert M. Williams Jr., and Jeff Dickerson serve as producers. Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Tim Minear, Juan Carlos Coto, Kristen Reidel, Lyndsey Beaulieu, Alexis Martin Woodall, John J. Gray, Bradley Buecker, Peter Krause, and Angela Bassett are executive producers on the show. (Photo Credt: ABC) The post 9-1-1 Season 9 Trailer: Angela Bassett TV Show Goes to Space appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Photo Credit: Amazon MGM Studios Amazon MGM Studios has announced the Prime Video release date for Playdate, the upcoming action comedy led by Kevin James (Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Grown-Ups) and Alan Ritchson (Reacher, Fast X). In addition, the studio has also shared the movie’s official photos, providing the audience with the first look at James and Ritchson’s characters, Brian and Jeff. Photo Credit: Amazon MGM StudiosPhoto Credit: Amazon MGM StudiosPhoto Credit: Amazon MGM StudiosPhoto Credit: Amazon MGM StudiosPhoto Credit: Amazon MGM StudiosPhoto Credit: Amazon MGM Studios When is the release date for Playdate? Playdate will be available for streaming starting on November 12, 2025, exclusively on Prime Video. The action comedy movie also stars Sarah Chalke as Emily, Alan Tudyk as Simon, Benjamin Pajak as Lucas, Banks Pierce as CJ, and Hiro Kanagawa as Colonel Kurtz, with Stephen Root as Gordon and Isla Fisher as Leslie. The movie is directed by Luke Greenfield from a screenplay written by Neil Goldman. In addition to starring, Ritchson is also serving as an executive producer alongside Dan Spilo, Neil Goldman, Michelle Meyers, Alexis Garcia, Matthew Goldberg, Lee Broda, and Jamal Sannon. It is produced by Greenfield, Jason Benoit, Sean Patrick O’Reilly, Mark Fasano, and Jeffrey Greenstein. The film currently has a total running time of 93 minutes or an hour and 33 minutes. “When recently unemployed accountant Brian agrees to a playdate with charismatic stay-at-home dad Jeff and their sons, he expects an easy afternoon of small talk and football tossing,” reads the movie’s official synopsis. “Instead, he’s thrust into a chaotic scramble to stay alive as they are pursued by a ruthless team of mercenaries. Brian stumbles through one ridiculous obstacle after another, his zero tactical skills a stark contrast to Jeff’s oddly prepared demeanor. Director Luke Greenfield hilariously collides suburban dad life with high-stakes thrills, transforming an ordinary afternoon into an absurd action-packed adventure where minivan mayhem meets professional hitmen.” The post Kevin James & Alan Ritchson Action Movie Playdate Gets Release Date & Photos appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Photo Credit: Netflix ComingSoon Senior Editor Brandon Schreur spoke with KPop Demon Hunters directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans about the hit animated Netflix movie. Kang and Appelhans discussed how the movie has changed since it was originally pitched seven years ago, exploring the power of music in the film, and more. “When they aren’t selling out stadiums, Kpop superstars Rumi, Mira, and Zoey use their secret identities as badass demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present supernatural threat,” the official synopsis reads. “Together, they must face their biggest enemy yet – an irresistible rival boy band of demons in disguise.” KPop Demon Hunters is now streaming globally on Netflix. Brandon Schreur: Maggie, I want to start with you. I read an interview you did in the past where you talked about how it was seven years from when you first pitched this movie to when it was released. I’m sure that was an incredible journey. Do you remember that first pitch meeting for KPop Demon Hunters? How did the movie change from that first pitch to the time when it came out? Maggie Kang: Yeah, it was pitched over a brunch with my producer friend, who is also friends with Chris. It was literally kind of an elevator pitch. Like, it’s a movie about these girls who are K-pop idols, but are secretly demon hunters. He was like, ‘I love it, let’s do this.’ I thought he was totally joking, but the next week, he had a deal ready for me at Sony Pictures Animation. It was actually first developed as a lower-budget movie. It was going to be a lot more violent. It was going to be a much messier individual, kind of like a failure of the family, and it was a story of her kind of coming out of that and becoming this prideful person and making her family proud. Throughout the process, I think we were about eight months into development, and Kristine Belson said, ‘Guys, I think this is a bigger movie.’ That’s when we started to think about a bigger scope, hitting all demographics. That’s when Chris joined us and we started to write the first draft. You know, it’s seven years, but animation — luckily and thankfully — goes through many different phases. You have the script phase, and then you start art and you start digital, where you’re actually making the assets. Then you start going into animation. There are all these different milestones you hit, so it’s a very rewarding process, even though it’s quite long. Sure. I’m glad it all turned out so well; I’m sure there were a million steps to think about, but it’s great. Chris, I’d love to know about how you got involved with the project, too. Do you remember what it was that originally made you want to be part of KPop Demon Hunters when you heard about this for the first time? What excited you the most when you first heard about it? Chris Appelhans: Yeah, two things. My wife is an author; she’s kind of like the first Korean American voices in Young Adult fiction. So she’s a very smart, funny, weird person. She was always telling me for years, ‘You’ve got to do better female characters.’ When I sat down with Maggie, she was like, ‘I have this vision for these girls that are funny, smart, weird, vengeful, and food-obsessed.’ I was like, ‘Please. Let me help you.’ That’s been really awesome to see those characters kind of forming a new archetype of what a role model can be. The other part, I grew up as a musician as much as an artist. When Maggie and I, we met at some coffee shop and she told me about the movie, and I was trying to play it cool the whole time. Kang: I know. I was like, ‘I don’t think he’s into this.’ Appelhans: Inside, I was like, ‘Holy crap, this is the one.’ I’ve wanted to do a film about music. One of the things that we bonded really early on was this idea — which can sound really cheesy — that you make a film about the power of music, as a connective thing. I had lived that, as a musician, my whole life. And Maggie’s an OG K-pop fan, so we both had a lived experience of how music can transform you. I think that really helped us find a spine — it led to so many things, like the hunters and the homeland. All that mythology is a way to try and dramatize that somewhat cheesy concept. But we really believed in it. From that point forward, I feel like the movie really started to tell us what it wanted. Thanks to Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans for taking the time to discuss KPop Demon Hunters. The post KPop Demon Hunters: Netflix Movie Was Much More Violent Originally, Directors Reveal appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Photo Credit: HBO Max The Task Episode 5 release date and time are swiftly approaching. This mystery-thriller drama series is helmed by Brad Ingelsby and features Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey in the lead roles. Emilia Jones, Fabien Frankel, Thuso Mbedu, Raúl Castillo, Alison Oliver, Owen Teague, and Silvia Dionicio make up the supporting cast. Titled “Vagrants,” the upcoming episode will see Tom and his team get close to solving their case after enlisting the aid of an eyewitness. Unfortunately, Tom gets led down a risky and shady path while trying to break the case. Meanwhile, Perry visits Maeve while Robbie puts the plan he had been working on for some time into motion. Here’s all you need to know about the episode’s release date, time, and streaming details. When is the Task Episode 5 release date & time? The episode’s release date is October 5, 2025, and its release time is 6 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) and 9 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Check out its release times in the U.S. below: TimezoneRelease DateRelease TimeEastern TimeOctober 5, 202509:00 p.m.Pacific TimeOctober 5, 202506:00 p.m. Find out how many episodes will be available to watch on Task right here. Where to watch Task Episode 5 You can watch Task Episode 5 via HBO and HBO Max. HBO is a premium television network and service operated by Home Box Office, Inc., a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery. The platform broadcasts original and acquired programming, films, unscripted series, documentaries, and variety shows. Meanwhile, HBO Max is a streaming service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The platform offers subscribers a wide range of film and television content spanning various genres. The content provided includes original and licensed films and TV shows, as well as titles from Warner Bros. Discovery-owned properties like HBO, Adult Swim, Discovery Channel, CNN, and Animal Planet. What is Task about? Task follows Tom Brandis, a priest-turned-FBI special agent who pursues an ordinary family man, responsible for a series of violent robberies. The official synopsis for Task is as follows: “In the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia, an FBI agent heads a task force assembled to put an end to a string of violent robberies led by an unsuspecting family man.” The post Task Episode 5 Release Date, Time, Where to Watch appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

No, Ichiro Suzuki isn’t coming out of retirement to be part of the Mariners’ playoff roster. The Hall-of-Famer played six innings in the outfield during a split-squad tune-up game yesterday at T-Mobile Park, adding some extra fun to the proceedings as the M’s got ready for the start of their ALDS matchup with either the Tigers or the Guardians on Saturday. The final calls on the 26-man playoff roster won’t be announced until a few hours before Saturday’s game, and as Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times notes, some of the Mariners’ decisions will likely depend on whether they’re facing Detroit or Cleveland. Perhaps the biggest roster question revolves about Bryan Woo’s status, but manager Dan Wilson said Woo is set to toss a bullpen session today. “It seems like things are going according to plan,” Wilson told Divish and other reporters. “He’ll get off the mound on Thursday, and so getting a chance to hear how he comes back from that on Friday and whatnot….We’ll just a continue to take it day by day and assess. And I do believe that we’re in a good spot with that.” The bullpen session will mark Woo’s first time throwing off a mound since September 19, when pectoral tightness forced him out of a start after five innings. The injury wasn’t severe enough to merit a placement on the 15-day injured list, though naturally the M’s are being as cautious as possible with a pitcher who has been Seattle’s most reliable starter in 2025. No announcement has been made about the Mariners’ playoff rotation, as Wilson said those decisions will wait until they team knows their opponent and has more input on Woo’s availability. Assuming Woo is able to pitch, however, Divish doesn’t think the right-hander will work in either of Seattle’s first two games of the series. Based on mound work during Wednesday’s warm-ups, George Kirby and Logan Gilbert (in some order) could be the favorites to start Game 1 and Game 2. The Mariners have long envisioned the idea of these two homegrown arms headlining a playoff series, ever since Kirby was drafted 20th overall in 2019 and Gilbert was the 14th overall pick of the 2018 draft. As MLB.com’s Jim Callis writes, team scout Rob Mummau played a big role in convincing the M’s to select Gilbert, whose stock had somewhat dropped after an ill-timed bout of mononucleosis during the spring before the draft. The focus of Callis’ piece is on Mummau’s real find of the 2018 draft, as the scout’s glowing reports led the Mariners to take Cal Raleigh with their third-round pick (90th overall). Raleigh wasn’t a complete diamond in the rough, as the M’s had to pay Raleigh $221.3K over the slot value of the 90th overall pick to convince Raleigh to leave Florida State after his junior year. However, while Raleigh was coming off a big season at FSU, his draft stock had fallen due to an unimpressive sophomore year. Mummau (who had some past ties to Raleigh’s family) knew that Raleigh had been dealing with a thumb injury that season. As a result, Mummau’s grades on Raleigh’s offensive and defensive tools were notably higher than other scouts, who projected Raleigh as a part-time starting catcher at best. It was enough for the Mariners to make the pick and the rest has become history, as Raleigh has exceeded all expectations to become a superstar on both sides of the ball. View the full article

Photo Credit: Disney Plus / Marvel Studios Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 almost featured an episode entirely dedicated to another MCU character connected to the world of Daredevil. What was the MCU crossover episode about? According to Daredevil: Born Again’s writer Jesse Wigutow in a recent interview with IGN, he confirmed that Born Again nearly featured a “bottle episode” dedicated to Echo and The Punisher. For those unaware, a bottle episode is an episode of television produced relatively cheaply and using as few characters as possible. Wigutow said that the episode was going to focus largely on Jon Bernthal’s The Punisher coming into the world of Daredevil, and spending an “interesting night” with Echo in a non-romantic sense. “They were looking to do a kind of singular bottle episode around the Punisher crossing into the Daredevil space,” Wigutow said. “This was two, three years ago, and one thing led to another, and I came in to largely focus on that. It involved the Punisher and Echo kind of spending an interesting night together — not romantically, but narratively.” Wigutow said the idea eventually “fell away,” but could come back in the future if the timing is right. “Who knows, maybe it comes back again,” said Wigutow. “But the story has been a little kind of crooked in terms of the development, and it was part of a former idea.” So far, not a ton is known about Daredevil: Born Again Season 2. The new season will pick up where the first one ended, and is also rumored to include the return of Mike Colter’s Luke Cage and Finn Jones’ Danny Rand (also known as Iron Fist) in a potential reunion of The Defenders. In addition to Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, and the previously confirmed Krysten Ritter, the cast of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 includes Margarita Levieva as Heather Glenn, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Wilson Bethel as Benjamin “Dex” Poindexter/Bullseye, Nikki M. James as Kirsten McDuffie, Genneya Walton as BB Urich, Clark Johnson as Cherry, Michael Gandolfini as Daniel Blake, Ayelet Zurer as Vanessa Fisk, Matthew Lillard, and more. Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is expected to premiere on Disney+ in March 2026. (Source: IGN) Originally reported by Anthony Nash at SuperHeroHype. The post Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 Almost Featured an MCU Crossover Episode appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Davis Chatfield made an albatross on the par-5 15th and closed with a 30-foot birdie putt for a 12-under 59 in the Korn Ferry Tour's Compliance Solutions Championship.View the full article

(Photo Credit: RLJE Films) RLJE Films has shared the official trailer for Muzzle: City of Wolves, the upcoming action thriller sequel led by The Dark Knight star Aaron Eckhart. The movie is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 14, 2025. Check out the Muzzle: City of Wolves trailer (watch more trailers): What happens in the Muzzle: City of Wolves trailer? The video features Eckhart’s return as Jake Rosser, who’s determined to enact his revenge against the people who tried to harm his family. Together with his trusted and loyal K-9, they will have to take on many dangerous people. The trailer also highlights some of the movie’s action-packed sequences. The cast also includes Tanya van Graan as Mia, Karl Thaning as Beekman, Grant Ross as Detective Spitzer, Jessica Stanley as Nurse Liz, Motsi Tekateka as Eric, Adrian Collins as Officer Cobb, and more. Muzzle: City of Wolves is directed by John Stalberg Jr. from a screenplay written by Jacob Michael King. It currently has a total running time of 90 minutes or an hour and 30 minutes. The movie is produced by Stalberg, Kyle Ambrose, Delon Bakker, and David Frigerio. The creative team consists of director of photography Pieter Vermeer, editor Bella Erikson, production designer Warren Gray, costume designer Dihantus Engelbrecht, and composer Paul Gallister. “Jake Rosser is haunted by PTSD from his days as a K-9 officer and endeavors to lead a peaceful life with his family and retired K-9 companion, Socks. But the tranquility quickly dissolves when a ruthless gang targets them in a brutal attack,” reads the official synopsis. “Determined to protect his loved ones, Jake and his new K-9 partner Argos delve into a violent underbelly of crime where Jake confronts corrupt officials, uncovers a perilous drug trafficking ring, and battles his own inner demons.” The post Aaron Eckhart & K-9 Kick Ass in Action Movie Muzzle: City of Wolves Trailer appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

When the Absolute Universe first kicked off, readers were surprised that Lex Luthor did not immediately appear in Absolute Superman. Indeed, the series set Ra’s Al Ghul up as the archenemy of the Man of Steel. The Absolute Lex Luthor finally made his grand debut in the Absolute Evil special. However, his appearance and attitude are nothing like that of his variant in the main universe. Written by Al Ewing, with art by Giuseppe Camuncoli, Absolute Evil centers around the formation of the Absolute Justice League. Far from being a benevolent organization, this league is made up of rich villains who fear the rise of superpowered heroes will upset the status quo and their financial bottom lines. However, this league is already being manipulated from within by Brainiac, an alien cyborg seemingly under the control of Ra’s Al Ghul. In the comic’s coda, Brainiac discusses his plan and the nature of reflections with Mirror Master. The comic concludes with the first appearance of Lex Luthor, who has a full head of hair and beard. This runs in defiance of his trademark clean-shaven head and face. (Image Source: DC / Giuseppe Camuncoli) What do we know about Absolute Lex Luthor? We know very little about the Absolute Universe Lex Luthor based on his first scene. We do know that he is happily married to a woman named Dora and has children. He apparently lives on a farm somewhere, based on what little we see of his home. He also describes himself as having been “an angry young man” and “envious of others.” This sounds like a fair description of most versions of Lex Luthor, but implies that this Luthor has moved beyond his petty jealousy of others. Indeed, he answers the phone by asking a question more appropriate to Superman – “How can I be of help?” The most interesting aspect of this Lex Luthor is why Brainiac wished to recruit him to the Absolute Justice League. In speaking with Mirror Master, Brainiac describes how they can negate the team’s effectiveness by balancing the various powers with it against each other. Ra’s Al Ghul’s zealot nature, for instance, can be utterly negated by the bored apathy of Hector Hammond. To that end, Brainiac recruits the Absolute Universe Lex Luthor as a counter to the Joker. We know almost as little about the Absolute Joker as we do Absolute Lex Luthor. His name is ironic, for he is famed for his hatred of humor. He is also a corrupt billionaire with fingers in many immoral enterprises, such as the Ark M prison. It is possible Brainiac recruited Lex, thinking a benevolent billionaire could blunt the amoral Joker. In any case, the idea of an emotionally well-adjusted Lex Luthor is an intriguing one. Absolute Evil #1 is now available in comic shops everywhere. Originally reported by Matt Morrison on SuperHeroHype. The post DC’s Lex Luthor Is Unrecognizable in First Absolute Universe Look appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Photo Credit: DC Studios Little is known about DC’s upcoming The Batman Part II, but a new casting report suggests we might know something about what’s set to happen in the movie. Who is joining The Batman Part II cast? According to a new report from PopFilm (who also broke news like Joel Kinnaman and Kumail Nanjiani joining Peacemaker Season 2), The Crown actor Tobias Menzies is being eyed to play a big role in The Batman Part II. The role, according to the report, is none other than Amadeus Arkham, the founder of the iconic Arkham Asylum, an institution for the criminally insane that becomes home to many of Batman’s foes after they’ve been captured or apprehended. It’s unclear exactly what this report means for the overall story of the film. However, with Arkham Asylum potentially being introduced, it could mean we will see even more of Batman’s villains appear. The name Arkham was briefly teased in 2022’s The Batman, with The Riddler being placed in Arkham State Hospital after being caught by Batman. The development of The Batman Part II has been a long one. The original film was released three years ago in 2022 and was a massive hit. Starring Pattinson as the titular hero, the film made over $770 million at the box office. According to a recent report, The Batman 2 — also known as The Batman Part II or The Batman Part 2 — will begin production at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in London, United Kingdom, on January 1, 2026. Pattinson will reprise his role as Batman in the movie, while the website lists the returning cast as Farrell, Andy Serkis as Alfred, and Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon. It also says Barry Keoghan is “expected” to return as the Joker, though this has not been confirmed by Warner Bros. Pictures as of yet. (Source: PopFilm) Originally reported by Anthony Nash on SuperHeroHype. The post The Batman Part II Cast Eying The Crown Star for DC Movie appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Winning the AL East allowed the Blue Jays to bypass the wild card round, and get some needed time off before the ALDS begins on Saturday. The longer break created some hope that Bo Bichette (who hasn’t played since September 6 due to a left PCL sprain) could get healthy enough to be part of Toronto’s first postseason roster, yet at the moment it looks like the shortstop won’t be ready. Jays manager John Schneider told The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon and other reporters that Bichette has yet to start running as part of his recovery process. Schneider and GM Ross Atkins were both, as Bannon put it, ” vague and cautiously optimistic” about Bichette’s availability, yet it is hard to imagine Bichette being included on the roster if he isn’t yet able to run. Such a lack of mobility would naturally rule out a return to shortstop duty, and even a DH-only or pinch-hitting role seems like a long shot. Despite the importance of Bichette’s bat to Toronto’s lineup, it hurts the Jays’ overall flexibility by devoting a roster spot to someone playing under what would seemingly be severe limitations. Schneider said that a decision on Bichette’s status won’t be made until tomorrow, and the Blue Jays don’t have to officially announce their ALDS roster until Saturday morning. Some gamesmanship could be at play here just to not tip the Jays’ hand about Bichette to the Red Sox and Yankees’ advance scouts, but for now, the question might be if Bichette will even be available for the ALCS should the Jays advance. Bichette’s bounce-back season was a huge part of the Blue Jays’ run to the division crown. After an injury-marred down year in 2024, Bichette rebounded to hit .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs over 628 plate appearances this year, with a 134 wRC+ that ranked 20th among all qualified hitters in baseball. Getting Bichette back even in a bat-only capacity as a DH would be welcome news for the Jays, but all this uncertainty over one of their top players is a cloud hanging over the club’s postseason chances. In a more positive injury update, Chris Bassitt is slated to pitch multiple innings during an intrasquad game today, which will be the final checkpoint towards the right-hander’s availability for the ALDS roster. Bassitt last pitched on September 18, and was then (retroactively) placed on the 15-day injured list the next day due to lower back inflammation. The timing has worked out well enough that the 15-day minimum will expire just prior to Game 1 of the ALDS, and Bassitt is expected to be part of Toronto’s pitching mix. How the Jays’ pitching plans will shake out is anyone’s guess, beyond the expectation of Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber acting in traditional starting roles. A healthy Bassitt might be viewed as a favorite for another rotation spot, and the Blue Jays are also weighing both ends of the experience spectrum in future Hall-of-Famer Max Scherzer and rookie Trey Yesavage. One pitcher who won’t be involved in at least the ALDS roster is Jose Berrios, who went on the 15-day IL on September 25 due to inflammation in his throwing elbow. Initial scans didn’t indicate any structural damage, and Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith writes that this diagnosis was supported once Berrios got a second opinion. Since Berrios hasn’t started throwing, it is hard to project whether or not he could be available if the Blue Jays make it deeper into October. The Jays had already made the decision to move the longtime starter into a bullpen role a couple of weeks ago, and Berrios likely would’ve continued to work as a reliever during the postseason. Atkins also had an update on first baseman Ty France, who is “feeling better” and “progressing at a level that he could be a factor for us” in the aftermath of an IL placement due to oblique inflammation. France last played on September 21 and is expected to try and face some live pitching soon, but it remains to be seen if this will come in time for France to be included on the ALDS roster. Acquired from the Twins at the trade deadline, France has hit .277/.320/.372 over 103 PA in a Jays uniform, and his right-handed bat could be a counter to Boston and New York’s left-handed pitchers. View the full article

(Photo Credit: Netflix) Netflix has announced the release date for The Abandons, its newest Western action drama, which hails from Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter. In addition, the streaming platform has also shared the official photos from the show, revealing the first look at its main cast led by Game of Thrones star Lena Headey and The Crown star Gillian Anderson. “Washington Territory — 1854 — The matriarchs of two very different families — one of wealth and privilege bound by blood, the other a found family of orphans and outcasts bound by love and necessity — find their fates linked by two crimes, an awful secret, a star-crossed love, and a piece of land with silver underneath. The collision echoes the American struggle of the haves and have-nots, in a place just beyond the reach of justice,” reads the official synopsis. THE ABANDONS. Lena Headey as Fiona Nolan in Episode 101 of The Abandons. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025THE ABANDONS. Gillian Anderson as Constance Van Ness. Cr. MATTHIAS CLAMER/Netflix © 2024THE ABANDONS. (L to R) Diana Silvers as Dahlia Teller, Lamar Johnson as Albert Mason, Natalia del Riego as Lilla Belle, and Nick Robinson as Elias Teller in Episode 103 of The Abandons. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025THE ABANDONS. Lena Headey as Fiona Nolan. Cr. MATTHIAS CLAMER/Netflix © 2024THE ABANDONS. Michiel Huisman as Xavier Roache in Episode 101 of The Abandons. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025THE ABANDONS. The Redmask Bandits in Episode 101 of The Abandons. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025THE ABANDONS. Gillian Anderson as Constance Van Ness in Episode 101 of The Abandons. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025THE ABANDONS. Lucas Till as Garret Van Ness in Episode 101 of The Abandons. Cr. Michelle Faye/Netflix © 2024THE ABANDONS. (L to R) Nick Robinson as Elias Teller and Aisling Franciosi as Trisha Van Ness in Episode 101 of The Abandons. Cr. Michelle Faye/Netflix © 2024THE ABANDONS. (L to R) Diana Silvers as Dahlia Teller, Aisling Franciosi as Trisha Van Ness, and Toby Hemingway as Willem Van Ness in Episode 101 of The Abandons. Cr. Michelle Faye/Netflix © 2024THE ABANDONS. (L to R) Ryan Hurst as Miles Alderton, and Nick Robinson as Elias Teller in Episode 101 of The Abandons. Cr. Michelle Faye/Netflix © 2024THE ABANDONS. Gillian Anderson as Constance Van Ness in Episode 101 of The Abandons. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025 When is the release date for Netflix’s The Abandons? The Abandons will be available for streaming starting on December 4, 2025, exclusively on Netflix. The ensemble cast also includes Nick Robinson, Diana Silvers, Lamar Johnson, Natalia del Riego, Lucas Till, Aisling Franciosi, Toby Hemingway, Michael Greyeyes, Ryan Hurst, Katelyn Wells, Clayton Cardenas, Elle-Maija Tailfeathers, Brían F. O’Byrne, Marc Menchaca, Patton Oswalt, Michael Ornstein, Jonathan Koensgen, Jack Doolan, Michiel Huisman, Haig Sutherland, and Sarah White. The show is created by Sutter, who’s best known for his work on hit shows like The Shield, Sons of Anarchy, and Mayans M.C. He is also serving as an executive producer along with Chris Keyser, Robert Askins, Stephen Surjik, Otto Bathurst, Emmy Grinwis, and Jon Paré. “This first chapter of The Abandons is a classic American story — the frontier, two families — both at war and in love with each other, a battle over who owns the land and who makes the rules,” Keyser said in a statement (via Tudum). “So, smack in the middle of murder and revenge and a bit of illicit romance, we also get to explore all of these questions we never seem to get away from: What makes a family? How do you stay good in a bad world? And, would you change who you are and what you believe in to protect what you love? But, in this case, we do it all through the eyes of Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson, as two widowed matriarchs battling to survive. And that, as they say, is really something to watch.” The post New Netflix Western TV Show The Abandons Gets Release Date & Photos appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

(Photo Credit: GameMill) I grew up with a lot of love for Nickelodeon cartoons, and it’s great getting to check in with them every few years through video game releases and recent movies. The latest celebration of Nicktoons comes in a surprising form: an action role-playing game in the vein of Diablo with a tabletop game aesthetic. With plenty of charm and some great drop-in/drop-out multiplayer, Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny is a refreshing celebration of imagination and some of the most beloved cartoon characters ever made. The Fairly Oddparents’ Timmy Turner sets the story in motion, as his wish brings his favorite game to life and also sucks in a wide array of different cartoon characters. With a surprising amount of voiced dialogue and some nice cutscenes, I was really impressed with the presentation here. You’re given five characters to choose from initially (and unlock a couple more throughout the game): Timmy, SpongeBob, Sandy Cheeks, Leonardo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Katara from Avatar. Each maps onto a different character class that is true to their personality, and it’s a great blend of the source material with fantasy tropes. Gameplay is on the relatively simple side of the genre, which is fitting, but you’ll still unlock special attacks and different loot as the game continues. Whether you’re playing with your kids or just looking to relax after a long day of work, Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny winds up being a charming and chill experience. The different maps look great, as you fight your way through enemies in environments based on different Nickelodeon shows. There are a lot of small touches, which means the bigger Nicktoon fan you are, the more you’ll get out of this. There are also a lot of fun side characters that make appearances as sidequest givers. I was shocked at just how many characters I remembered from some of the shows, especially since I haven’t seen Jimmy Neutron or The Fairly Oddparents in well over 15 years. It’s this trip of nostalgia, which is then paired with an enjoyable gameplay loop that is always fun yet never frustrating, that makes Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny just a really good time. My favorite moments in the game came in co-op, though, as it’s really easy for another player to jump in. The characters’ abilities mesh well together, such as Katara being able to heal, so you’re able to really aid any younger player through the experience if they struggle solo. Whether you know all the characters or not, they become inherently likable as you play with them, and that is sure to make children want to check out the shows they’re not familiar with. Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny Review: Final Verdict Developers Fair Play Labs and Petit Fabrik have done a great job with Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny. Not only does it pay proper respect to the cartoons and the characters we love, but it blends it with a clear reverence for tabletop gaming and fantasy tropes. It’s a rewarding combination that makes the game fun for gamers of all ages, especially if you are looking to play with others locally. SCORE: 8/10 As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 8 equates to “Great.” While there are a few minor issues, this score means that the art succeeds at its goal and leaves a memorable impact. Disclosure: The publisher provided a PlayStation 5 copy for our Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny review. Reviewed on version 1.002.000. The post Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny Review: Fun Co-Op Gaming for All appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

http://blogs.fangraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Mason-Miller-NLWCS-G2-2025.jpgDenis Poroy-Imagn Images It’s been six days since Mason Miller let somebody hit the baseball. Actually, that’s not quite true. Until the right-hander caught Michael Busch with a literal back-foot slider in the eighth-inning of yesterday’s Wild Card matchup between the Padres and the Cubs, it had indeed been five days, three relief appearances, and 11 batters since anybody came to the plate against Miller and did something other than strike out. However, six of those 11 victims managed to get their bats on the ball. Three of them did it twice. It’s just that over the past week, nobody has been able to figure out how to square up one of Miller’s disappearing sliders or 102 mph fastballs – yes, his four-seamer has averaged 102 mph over the last three outings – well enough to achieve so much as a tapper back to the mound. Busch’s unfortunate foot snapped the streak at 11, but it did nothing to look Miller look more hittable. In a fun twist, the all-time record for consecutive strikeouts (or at least since 1961, when full play-by-play data became available) belongs to Miller’s teammate Jeremiah Estrada. Estrada struck out a 13 straight batters across three appearances just last May. In fact, he struck all 13 of them out swinging. http://blogs.fangraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Jeremiah-Estrada-Strikeout-Streak-Play-Log.png That’s a pleasurably tidy play log. Estrada’s streak only ended because, when he entered the game on May 31 against the Royals, manager Mike Schildt intentionally walked the first batter he faced. Anytime Miller is on the mound, the general feeling among spectators is astonishment that anyone ever manages to put the ball in play. He just threw an immaculate inning. Since his debut in 2023, Miller has allowed just 0.55 hits per inning, the lowest rate among all 473 pitchers who have thrown at least 100 innings. And now, following a 2025 season in which his 45.2% whiff rate ranked second among all pitchers, Miller has ascended to a higher plane. His whiff rate over the past three games has rocketed up to an absurd 61.9%. Now that the streak has run its course, it’s time to celebrate the six marvels who managed to connect with one of his pitches, no matter how inconsequential the contact. We’ll count down, from the weakest contact to the strongest, starting with Moisés Ballesteros getting the smallest amount of baseball possible it’s possible to get. You can just hear the sound of the foul tip before the ball hits the glove. Honestly, it’s impressive that Ballesteros got enough of this pitch to make a sound at all. This is a 102.6 mph fastball well above the strike zone. It came in at a height of 3.76 feet, and this season, Miller ran a whiff rate of 55.9% on fastballs 3.7 feet or higher. Even pitchers who don’t throw 102 lean on four-seamers above the zone because it’s so hard for batters both to lay off it and to hit it. This pitch is why we care about vertical approach angle. This pitch is why we’ll never forget the climax of A League of their Own. The pitch to Ballesteros technically went down as a whiff because Statcast counts foul tips for strike three as whiffs rather than fouls, but we don’t have to take that away from him. He gently brushed the baseball, and for that we honor him. Next up is Dansby Swanson, who got a tiny bit more of the pitch and a whole lot more of catcher Freddy Fermin. You may think Miller fooled Swanson with a 2-2 slider away, and he may well have done so. It’s also equally possible that Swanson really was trying to keep an eye out for the slider. It’s just that when you know you might see 104 up above the strike zone, trying to look for the slider and actually staying back long enough to be on time for it are two very different propositions. The shortstop was just able to slow down enough to throw the bat head at the ball. It was a great accomplishment, and because of it, Fermin will surely hold a lifelong grudge. Here’s another two-strike slider that just barely avoided ending up as strike three. Ahead 1-2, Miller missed high and inside to Seiya Suzuki, and this shows you why pitchers tend to think hard in, soft away. Batters need to catch the ball much further in front of the plate when it’s on the inside, so the fact that Suzuki was way out in front of this pitch didn’t hurt him too much. He still caught the smallest piece of it – so small that he barely kept it from sticking in the catcher’s mitt – but at least he caught that piece with the barrel of his bat. Did he barrel this pitch up? Absolutely not. Did he strike out anyway on the very next pitch? You bet he did. We’re done with the foul tips now. Up next, we have a group of four regular-looking foul balls. These ones stretch back to Miller’s last regular season appearance against the Diamondbacks on September 27, and they’re all just fastballs that nobody could catch up to. This is why pitching coaches tell pitchers aim for the middle of the zone and dare batters to hit it, and this is the benefit of throwing harder than just about anyone who has ever lived. Miller didn’t necessarily fool anybody here. They were geared up for the fastball and they got it. It was just too much to handle. Swanson, Connor Kaiser, Carson Kelly, and even contact maven Geraldo Perdomo are doing all they can just to slap this ball into the seats on the opposite side and live to see another pitch. Swanson took a robust hack and looked out to the mound as if to say, “I’m on to you, Mason Miller.” http://blogs.fangraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Dansby-Swanson-Staredown.png He was not, in fact, onto Miller, but you can see why this foul felt like a victory. Now we’re into the really impressive fouls. Here’s Kelly again, very nearly keeping the ball in the field of play! Kelly is out ahead of a slider on the inside corner here, and he sends a weak popup to the right side that just drifts out of play despite Luis Arraez’s heroic efforts to reel it in. Seriously, Arraez tossed himself over a thick concrete barrier. He must have ended up with a serious bruise, and he took his frustration out on the netting. I wrote about this exact kind of batted ball back in May. Normally when you’re ahead of a pitch, you hit it to the pull side, but sometimes you’re so far ahead that you have to drop your bat head to slow down. At that point, you can’t help but pop it up the other way. If Kelly had been above the ball, he would have hit a weak grounder to the left side – or, more likely, fouled it straight down and off his own foot – but since he was underneath it, he came just a few feet (or one gust of wind) from achieving the impossible dream of facing Mason Miller and coming away with a weak popout. Last up is Geraldo Perdomo, long one of the best hitters in baseball when it comes to making contact, and more recently, somehow one of the best hitters in baseball, period. Here’s Perdomo genuinely rifling a slider to the pull side. This ball came off the bat at 100 mph. Perdomo was still way out in front of it. It was probably foul by a good 25 feet at the moment it passed first base. Still, that’s the best contact anyone has made against Miller in nearly a week. Perdomo would go on to strike out like all the others, but he can take pride in knowing that he’s the last player ever to actually hit the ball hard off Miller. Source View the full article

Zac Gallen is one of the more intriguing pitchers on the free agent market this winter, as interested clubs will have to balance the right-hander’s solid track record up against his shaky 2025 season. Theoretically, the situation could present an opening for Gallen to accept a qualifying offer from the Diamondbacks, though John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7FM Radio (multiple links) feels “there is no chance he accepts it.” This winter’s qualifying offer is estimated to be worth roughly $22MM. While a nice one-year payday, Gallen is undoubtedly looking for much more in a longer-term commitment as he tests the market for the first time. Even if his struggles this year inevitably lower his asking price, baseball’s ever-present need for pitching means that Gallen should be able to land some kind of acceptable multi-year pact. Scott Boras (Gallen’s agent) has a long history of finding such deals for his clients, though Boras has also explored relatively shorter-term contracts with opt-out clauses for players who are entering free agency on the heels of so-so platform years. It isn’t hard to imagine Gallen signing such a deal, and then if he returns to form in 2026, enacting an opt-out clause to immediately return to free agency. Obviously there’s some risk in betting on himself in such a fashion, plus next year’s market has the added uncertainty of labor unrest and a potential lockout as the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires. Gallen posted a 4.83 ERA, 21.5% strikeout rate, and 8.1% walk rate over 192 innings in 2025, with the ERA and K% both standing out as career worsts. Pretty much all of Gallen’s Statcast numbers were below the league average, and he was continually plagued by the home run ball — Gallen’s 31 homers allowed were the third-most of any pitcher in baseball. The inflated number is related in part to the number of innings Gallen tossed, though his barrel rate and hard-hit ball rates didn’t surpass the 26th percentile of all pitchers. The good news for Gallen is that he seemed to get on track over the season’s final two months. After posting a 5.60 ERA over his first 127 innings, he improved to a 3.32 ERA over his last 65 frames and 11 starts. Gallen’s turn-around came directly after the trade deadline, and had he started pitching better a little earlier, it is quite possible he already would’ve been gone from Arizona considering the Diamondbacks’ other deadline sells. Ken Kendrick is a known fan of Gallen, and the D’Backs owner stated earlier this week that it isn’t “out of the realm of reality” that the righty could be re-signed. Within that same interview, however, Kendrick said that “we will not be spending at the same level” as in 2025, though the Diamondbacks still plan to have a competitive payroll and are intent on winning next year. Whether this adds up to a salary number that can work for both the D’Backs and Gallen’s camp remains to be seen. If Gallen did reject the qualifying offer and sign elsewhere, Arizona would receive a compensatory draft pick just after the first round of the 2026 draft. Landing an extra pick in the 31-36 overall range would be a decent consolation prize if Gallen did depart, especially if the Diamondbacks could add starting pitching elsewhere at a lower price. For instance, a reunion with Merrill Kelly has been speculated on basically ever since Kelly was traded to the Rangers at the deadline. Kelly was open about his desire to stay in Arizona both before and after the trade, and Kelly would be available at a lower price than Gallen given their ages (Kelly turns 37 in a couple of weeks, and Gallen turned 30 last month). Gambadoro feels the Diamondbacks will pursue one of Gallen or Kelly but not both, leaving one rotation spot open for a younger pitcher until Corbin Burnes is ready to return from Tommy John surgery. Between Arizona’s pitching needs and the team’s desire to lower payroll, some other areas of the roster might receive less focus. For instance, Gambadoro thinks the D’Backs will probably stand pat at first base, with Pavin Smith getting the bulk of at-bats and Tim Tawa or Tyler Locklear facing as the right-handed hitting side of the platoon. Bringing in a veteran bat for the first base/DH mix would also seem logical, even if such an acquisition isn’t likely to be as high profile as last offseason’s trade for Josh Naylor. Smith appeared in only eight games after July 5, as an oblique strain and then a quad strain cost him essentially all of the back half of the season. Smith hit .258/.362/.434 with eight home runs over 288 plate appearances in 2025, facing right-handers in all but 24 of those trips to the dish. The result was a very solid 123 wRC+ for the season, yet almost all of Smith’s production came during a scorching-hot April, and his strikeout rate ballooned upwards to an ungainly 31.9%. Getting more out of Tawa or Locklear would go a long way towards solidifying the Diamondbacks’ first base platoon, but the unproven duo has only 390 combined Major League PA between them. View the full article

In another blow to the First Amendment Rights of library users, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida ruled that the Escambia County school board did not violate student or author rights when it pulled And Tango Makes Three from school library shelves. This is the second ruling in a matter of months to put the approved content of public library and public school library materials into the hands of government officials. It is also a ruling that contradicts one made in the U.S. Middle District Court of Florida in mid-August, where the judge found a Florida law used to remove books from public schools was “overbroad and unconstitutional.” Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, the creators of And Tango Makes Three, alongside an elementary school student in the district, filed the lawsuit against Escambia County school board in September 2023. It alleged that the district removed the nonfiction picture book about a pair of penguins at the Central Park Zoo who raised an egg together was removed by the board because it disagreed with their viewpoint. They argued the decision infringed on their free speech rights. Escambia officials claimed that library collections were government speech. They could curate the collection as they wished and authors did not have a right to have their materials included. Judge Allen Winsor oversaw the case in the District Court. But rather than lean on the arguments presented by Escambia, he went with a different approach. First, Winsor argued, school libraries are not a public forum for expressing opinions. In that, the authors didn’t have the right to have their books included. Second, Winsor stated that the book being removed from the school library didn’t hinder the student plaintiff’s ability to get the book. He could “order it online, buy it at a bookstore, or borrow it from a friend.” This is a common argument made by the individuals and groups who have been pursuing book bans in public schools and libraries since the unprecedented rise in book censorship began in 2021. The New York Times’s coverage on the case points out that Winsor did not address the issue of “government speech.” Instead, Judge Winsor leaned on the First Amendment argument. From the ruling: And Tango Makes Three was removed from Escambia Schools following a single parent complaint. After multiple review committees elected to keep the book on shelves, the parent appealed the decision to the board, who pulled it. In other words, one complaint from the community was enough to remove the book from an entire school district. Even by Escambia County’s current selection policy, removal of And Tango Makes Three–again, a work of nonfiction–would not be appropriate. Parnell et al. vs. School Board of Escambia County is the second case this year to directly address the First Amendment rights as they relate to patron access in public libraries. The first came from the Fifth Circuit Court in late May, which argued that the First Amendment cannot be used to challenge book removals in three U.S. states. Library books are government speech and thus, not subject to the Free Speech clause–in other words, Little vs. Llano County provides fertile ground for removing materials from shelves based entirely on political motivation and sets up ample opportunity for the development of biased library collections paid for by taxpayer dollars. The ruling currently applies to Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, but Judge Winsor pulled liberally from that case in making his decision in Parnell. At least one of the most prolific book banners in the country, Bruce Friedman, celebrated the judge’s decision. He told Clay County, Florida, schools in a message on X that he’d be seeking to get And Tango Makes Three removed from the district soon. This is one of two lawsuits that have been filed against Escambia County school board in relation to their mass book bannings. PEN America, Penguin Random House, and a group of authors joined with parents and students in Escambia County, Florida, to file a lawsuit against the school board in May 2023. That case is still moving through the court system. Parnell and Richardson have filed numerous lawsuits in relation to the banning of And Tango Makes Three, which celebrated its 20th publication anniversary this year. They settled one against Florida’s Nassau County School District, wherein the board not only had to put their book and several others inappropriately removed back on school shelves, but the district also had to acknowledge their decision had no basis. There are also a lot of unanswered questions as a result of this ruling. Where and how does this square with Judge Mendoza’s from August, wherein the law Florida instituted to remove books was deemed unconstitutional? Where and how does this decision contradict the ruling in 1982’s Island Trees vs. Pico, which held that public school libraries are places for voluntary inquiry and dissemination of information and ideas? If school and public libraries aren’t required to meet the diverse needs and interests of their communities, then what purpose do they even serve? The future of whether or not public library materials constitute government speech remains to be seen. The plaintiffs in Parnell can appeal the decision, and the decision rendered in Little vs. Llano County from earlier this year is eligible for appeal to the Supreme Court. View the full article

Credits: Lucasfilm Two years after its theatrical release, the actual budget of Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny has finally been revealed for the fifth and final installment to the Harrison Ford-led franchise– and it cost a lot more than what it was previously reported. Since its debut, the movie has received a Tomatometer rating of 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the franchise’s lowest-rated installment and the only one that didn’t maintain a Certified Fresh score. What was Indiana Jones 5’s budget? According to the recent filings released by Disney, the studio actually spent $419 million for the production of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, making it one of the most expensive movies ever made. Before this, it was initially reported that the movie cost around $300 million. This new revelation confirmed that the movie’s box office earnings weren’t able to surpass its total budget. During its theatrical run, the final Indiana Jones movie earned a worldwide gross of $384 million. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was directed by Academy Award nominee James Mangold (Logan), who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jez and John-Henry Butterworth. Joining Harrison Ford in his final adventure as Indiana Jones were Golden Globe winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena Shaw, Antonio Banderas as Renaldo, Mads Mikkelsen as Jürgen Voller, Thomas Kretschmann as Colonel Weber, Boyd Holbrook as Klaber, Shaunette Renée Wilson as Mason, and Toby Jones as Basil Shaw. Franchise vets John Rhys-Davies and Karen Allen also returned as Sallah and Marion Ravenwood, respectively. (Source: Forbes) Originally reported by Maggie Dela Paz for SuperHeroHype. The post Indiana Jones 5’s Actual Budget Reveals Harrison Ford Movie Is Even More of a Bomb appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Welcome to Today in Books, our daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more. Authors Can See If They Can Get a Piece of that $1.5 Billion Anthropic Settlement There is $1.5 billion (less lawyer fees and administrative costs) up for authors to grab if their work was among the training data subject to the massive (but maybe even somehow still too small) lawsuit against Anthropic, and authors can now officially see what works are in there and how to get in on the settlement. The FAQ is your best place to start. You do have to file a claim through the website to be eligible for a payout and taking that payout also means you are giving up your right to sue Anthropic individually. All claims will be paid out equally, so if you are Stephen King or….not Stephen King, you will be paid the same for each valid claim. Weirdly, the fewer claims made, the more per claim the payout will be. I tried to do some math based on the number of works in the dataset, but there are too many confounding factors. I will wait to see some screenshots of happy/sad/resigned awardees. Where to Start with Thomas Pynchon Maybe you are one of those people who have always heard about the famously reclusive, brilliant, and difficult Thomas Pynchon. Maybe you have one or two under your belt. Maybe you are a completist. There is something for all Pynchon (and Pynchon-curious) readers in A.O. Scott’s guide. As for me, I have a very standard rec for people who want to grab a seat on the Pynchon Carousel: The Crying of Lot 49. Not only is it probably the most accessible, it is also crucially the shortest. Not everyone wants to stay on the ride after all. Is a Dedicated Social Media App Something That Can Work in 2025? Bindery Books is an influencer-centric publisher which pairs new books with social media influencers as sorta micro-publishers. Basically, folks with meaningful online platforms can get a piece of the action for hyping books. This kind of business is supremely subject to social media algorithms, on the upside as well as down. So it makes a sort of sense that Bindery would be interested in an app of one’s own that they can control. The devilish bit will be getting people to use it. Other devilish bits will follow (content moderation at scale is a nasty business), though it is unlikely to make it that far. The It Books of October 2025 Rebecca Schinsky and I do our monthly triage of the contenders to be the It Book of the month. View the full article

On July 31, 2022, NBA legend Bill Russell passed away at the age of 88. The Hall of Famer had one of the most historic careers in league history. Russell is a 12-time all-star, 11-time NBA champion, and five-time league MVP. To commemorate his impact on the NBA, his #6 was retired league-wide ahead of […] The post Thunder’s Jaylin Williams will be the last player in NBA history to wear #6 appeared first on Basketball Insiders | NBA Rumors And Basketball News. View the full article

2025 Global Hockey Forum was a great success!View the full article